Historic Minardi Day: Formula 1 legends on track at the Imola circuit
The Enzo e Dino Ferrari Circuit in Imola hosts the Historic Minardi Day, the event that celebrates historic single-seaters and the legends of motorsport. An unmissable date for fans of historic motorsport, amid roaring engines, iconic drivers and cars that made motor racing history: in 2026 the tenth edition drew more than 20,000 fans. Here is everything you need to know.
Historic Minardi Day at a glance
- What it is: the gathering of historic Formula 1 cars, starting with the Minardis from Faenza, with parades on track and meetings with drivers and engineers of the past.
- Where: Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola (Bologna).
- 2027 edition: dates not yet announced; updates are published on the official website.
- 2026 edition: 19 and 20 September, more than 20,000 fans and 34 Formula 1 cars on track.
The Minardi story: a “David versus Goliath” of Formula 1
The Minardi team was born from the vision of Giancarlo Minardi, who in the early 1980s took his small Faenza workshop into the temple of Formula 1. A true “David versus Goliath”, capable of challenging giants such as Ferrari and McLaren: a seemingly unequal fight that never discouraged the tenacious patron from Faenza.
Experiencing the Minardi story means recognising the value of hard work and of that typically Romagnol tenacity: that of those who, while knowing their resources were limited compared with the big teams, never stopped fighting, devising solutions and pushing forward. It is a story of passion and audacity which, without a doubt, lie at the root of every great success.
For more than twenty years Minardi embodied the “artisan” soul of the World Championship: a team where a tight budget was offset by extraordinary engineering creativity and an unbreakable human bond. It was the “team of dreams”, the one that launched young talents and challenged the works teams with a courage that international motorsport has never forgotten.
Historic Minardi Day: programme and the event in numbers
Every year, on the occasion of the Historic Minardi Day, the Imola area experiences an extraordinary moment. Local accommodation gets fully booked and thousands of enthusiasts of all ages pour into the Enzo e Dino Ferrari Circuit for an unforgettable day.
During the event the circuit hosts the single-seaters that belonged to the Faenza team, alongside other historic cars from the F1 World Championship and from the F2, F3, GP2 and GP3 series, as well as prototypes and Gran Turismo cars. To give an idea of the numbers: the tenth edition, on 19 and 20 September 2026, drew more than 20,000 fans and brought 34 Formula 1 cars onto the track, among the hundreds of historic cars that took turns between the track and the paddock.
Read also: all the events in Imola in 2027, the 4 Hours of Imola, the FIA WEC, Imola di Mercoledì and Imola Classic.
The paddock experience: face to face with the legends
The Historic Minardi Day is an event that brings everyone together: those who come to relive old memories of the Formula 1 of yesteryear, those discovering for the first time the cars that made motor racing history, and those who simply want to breathe in the unique atmosphere this place can offer.
The emotion is amplified when you step into the paddock area, on the terrace. Here the dream comes true: you walk just centimetres away from the legends of the wheel: drivers, engineers and mechanics who wrote the history of this sport. Seeing your idols, having a chat and asking for an autograph is a feeling you will never forget.
The protagonists: the cars, the drivers and the engineers
And then there are the absolute protagonists: the cars, which are certainly no ordinary machines. You can admire up close the glorious single-seaters of Formula 1, Formula 2 and Formula 3, together with historic GTs, prototypes, Gran Turismo cars and many more. At the Historic Minardi Day, however, the cars are not mere exhibition pieces: they take to the track and make the asphalt tremble with their roar: the sweetest sound there is for Formula 1 fans.
Among the many protagonists who have enlivened past editions are legends such as:
- Aldo Costa
- Gabriele Tarquini
- Gastón Mazzacane
- Philippe Alliot
- Thierry Boutsen
- Pierluigi Martini
- Bruno Giacomelli
- Arturo Merzario
- Luis Pérez-Sala
- Alessandro Nannini
Champions and personalities who have shared with the public the memories of a life spent on track.
Experiencing the Historic Minardi Day: activities and on-track experiences
A rich programme of activities awaits you: automobilia stands, exhibitions, conferences, book presentations, LEGO areas and much more. But at the Historic Minardi Day you are not just a spectator: if you wish, you can feel the thrill of driving and take to the track yourself with the driving experiences, or try the Formula 1 simulators.
Where to stay near Imola during the Historic Minardi Day
Planning to attend the next Historic Minardi Day and wondering where to stay? At Podere Zampiera Vecchia we are ready to welcome you, offering the perfect balance between the energy of the event and the relaxing quiet of the countryside. Our farmhouse near Imola awaits you as the perfect setting for your day.
We look forward to seeing you: take a look at our special offers and book your stay now.
